Self-Esteem, Oppression, and Life Satisfaction as Predictors of Internet Addiction
Authors:
Gina R. Hernandez, Alicia Morales, Kalin Nishimori, Katherine OrellanaMentor:
Kimmy Kee, Associate Professor of Psychology, California State University Channel IslandsAlthough there is a general agreement that individuals with internet addiction experience poorer self-esteem and less satisfaction with life, fundamental questions about the nature and scope of internet addiction are not fully known. The current ongoing study examines aspects of personality (social esteem, performance esteem, appearance esteem, felt perceived oppression, attributed perceived oppression, and life satisfaction) as predictors of internet addiction in a sample of 32 undergraduate students. Participants’ personality processes were assessed using the State Self-Esteem Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Oppression Questionnaire. Internet addiction was assessed using the Internet Addiction Test. A series of multiple regression analyses revealed that among the personality processes, social esteem (B = -1.24, t(30) = -2.12, p = 0.045) and attributed perceived oppression (B = 1.23, t(30) = 2.36, p = 0.027) were significant determinants of internet addiction, whereas satisfaction with life (B = 1.12, t(30) = 2.01, p = 0.056) was at trend level. The other aspects of personality such as performance esteem, appearance esteem, and felt perceived oppression were not significant predictors of internet addiction. These preliminary findings could potentially expand our understanding of the role of personality processes that are important determinants of internet addiction in undergraduate students.